Ok guys, Not one to be left out here I am going to share my three year fantasy come true. I have always wanted a nice airconditioned clean place to work on my cars dating back to 1997 when I started restoring my '69 vert SS350. I started getting more serious when I ordered the new Camaro back in the pre order days. Thanks to another good year in the working thing I am finally starting this thing. It is a big one so please hang in there with me during this adventure.
The building will measure 80' x 125' with 18' endwalls. It is further split into three sections as follows:
25' x 80' for work storage
50' x 80' for the climate controlled shop/two level office meeting area.
50' x 80' for enclosed truck parking.

I am enclosing pictures of the pad prep and my very crude attempt with google layout to show you what I am talking about as far as the general layout and upstairs of the doghouse/mancave.

We are planning to start putting the forms up for the concrete on 8/3 or next Wed. May not look like it but there are 39 semi loads of primary screenings used to prepare the pad site. The building is slated to be delivered the first week in Aug. as well. The erection (lol) of the building should only take a couple of weeks, the finishout???????? I hope to be able to move fast, but the wife has house remodeling plans that may interfere.

LOL...I am building it right beside my work. Since I am there about 10 hours a day anyway I am hoping it will be a little sanctuary from the grind. My kids also need a place to hang out during the busy season out of the office and hopefully doing their homework. Nearest place to eat is five miles away and I am sick of Subway and Mc Donalds (about the only options for lunch). Now I can cook a good lunch and not lose so much time or be very far from the plant.
Just need to figure out a way to make time to work on my toys.

Thanks everyone! I am going all out on this one. After spending the last 28 years doing nothing but work and home I just want to slow down and enjoy things a little. I had a stoke (actually a whole bunch of little ones and one doozie) back about 6 years ago.....kinda changed my outlook on life. I was very fortunate and Blessed not to have any long term damage.
It is just very hard for me not to work 70 hours a week....but I am trying.

Sorry I havent posted in a while, contractor took off to finish another project.
Well guys we have progress and pics! The first few are of the forms and pad prep. The last ones are of the building being delivered! If you will notice those big white fluffly things floating in the sky, they are scouts. Sent to try to figure out when the concrete will be poured. Keep it betwee us but this Sat. at 5am we are going for it! Will try to finish the second pour next Monday. I am guessing about 7 days to cure then it will be time to stand steel!
You can notice the hay burners in the background. They are all a bunch of chrity cases, one was born without an eye, they were bought for a couple of hundred and really starved, lucky they lived. As you can see they doing well now.

I always love it when people's hard work pays off for them. It's inspiring for a young person like myself that if you work hard enough, anything can be possible. It really sounds like you deserve it. ENJOY IT!

I always love it when people's hard work pays off for them. It's inspiring for a young person like myself that if you work hard enough, anything can be possible. It really sounds like you deserve it. ENJOY IT!

The Big Man gets way more credit than I do, I have been truely blessed. I am even more pround of my wife who works with me and my beautiful kids. You are right, hard work will pay off, just do your homework and make sure to work smart as well. Just remember the best things in life are not about money.

Finally we have concrete! The first pour went off without a hitch all 143 yrds of it. If all goes according to plan the second part will be done on Monday. These guys kicked butt, started at 5am and were done by 11 am. We also got the water line run over today.

That is a sea of concrete. In this ridiculous heat, what has to be added to the mix to slow the cure and prevent cracking?

Once they finish the power trowel......water and lots of it! I figure we are putting on about 1,000 gallons every two hours.
I think my gate guards (the ones wetting it down) hate this shop about now. Since I have to keep it wet for seven days I may just shovel a border around it and flood it. We are topping out at 103 today, how bad is it in the Hill Country?